Japanese Vehicles Dominate Consumer Reports’ Top-Picks List

A Lexus IS 350 F Sport at the Detroit auto show. Lexus won the top-brand prize from Consumer Reports.

Consumer Reports, a magazine known for putting cars and other products through rigorous testing, released its top vehicles in 10 categories and best car brands for 2013.

To become a top pick a vehicle has to be among the best performers in road testing, near the well in road tests, must have a an average or better predicted-reliability rating, which is based on problems Consumer Reports subscribers reported on 1.2 million vehicles in the magazine’s latest annual auto survey.

Top picks also have to perform adequately if tested in government or insurance industry crash testing

One big winner is Honda, which made the list with its Accord sedan, CR-V compact SUV and Odyssey van after having no vehicles make the cut last year. BMW returned to the top ranks with the 328i sedan after a 10-year absence, and Audi returned after 13 years with the A6 sedan. The Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ twin sports cars are new to the list and the Hyundai Elantra returns after a one-year absence.

Consumer reports said it didn’t chose a top pickup truck because it hasn’t yet tested revamped full-size models from General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC.

Here are the winners in each category:

Midsize sedan: Honda Accord

Sports cars: Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ

Budget car: Hyundai Elantra

Green car: Toyota Prius

Compact car: Subaru Impreza

Luxury car: Audi A6

Small SUV: Honda CR-V

Midsize SUV: Toyota Highlander

Sports sedan: BMW 328i

Minivan: Honda Odyssey

Lexus won the top-brand prize with an overall score of 79, just ahead of Subaru and Mazda, both with 76 points. The magazine said it recommends all of the current Lexus models.

This year Consumer Reports changes its approach to judging the brands, grading each car maker’s individual brands instead of combining each brands score under one company. For example, Toyota, Lexus, and Scion models were scored separately this year.